Starting off singing at the local Optimist Club, Young was discovered by Webb Pierce, who brought him to star on the Louisiana Hayride radio program on KWKH in 1951.
He was drafted into the Army in late 1952, just after he was signed to Capitol Records. Nicknamed "The Hillbilly Heartthrob" and "The Singing Sheriff," he had many hits including:
"Young Love"
"If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')"
"Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young"
"Sweet Dreams"
"Alone With You"
"Hello Walls" (written by Willie Nelson)
"It's Four in the Morning" (written by Jerry Chesnut).
"Here I Am In Dallas"
"I've Got Five Dollars and It's Saturday Night"
Young made several appearances during the late 1950s on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee.
His #1 country hit "It's Four in the Morning" was written at his request as he was recuperating from a serious automobile accident in which he suffered head injuries. His tongue had been partly severed in the accident, and it took him several months before he could regain normal speaking ability. He had particular trouble with the "s" sound in most words, so he asked for a song which largely avoided that sound as his comeback effort.
Faron Young's band, the Country Deputies, was one of country music's top bands, and toured with him for many years.
Young co-founded, with Preston Temple, the Nashville trade newspaper, The Music City News.
Young died at the age of sixty-four of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had been in failing health when he took his own life.
Legacy and influence
A performance video clip of "It's Four In The Morning" was the first video to air on CMT when it first launched on March 5, 1983.
In 1985, the country singer inspired homage from British rock group, Prefab Sprout, whose multimillion-selling album, "Steve McQueen" contains the song "Faron Young." The song has the refrain: You give me Faron Young four in the morning / Forgive me Faron Young four in the morning..."
In 2000, he was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame
In the comic strip Peanuts, Frieda's cat was named "Faron" after Faron Young, of whom Charles Schulz was a fan.
Worked with Webb Pierce on the Louisana Hayride in 1951. First recorded with Tillman Franks & his Rainbow boys in 1951. Went solo in 1952. Appeared in the 1956 movie "Hidden Guns" and got his nickame "The Young Sheriff", and his band name, "Country Deputies" from that movie. Also appeared in the movies, Stampede, Daniel Boone, Raiders Of Old California, and That's Country. Founder and one-time publisher of the Music City News in Nashville. First charted song "Going Steady went to #2 on the Country Charts in 1953. Put 79 songs into the top 40 of the country charts from 1953-1978. Had 5 #1s. Last # 1 was It's Four In the Morning in 1971. During the '90s, Young was stricken with a debilitating emphysema. Depressed by his poor health, he shot himself on December 9, 1996, and passed away the next day Source Joel Whitburn's Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country
Saginaw Michigan
Faron Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I grew up in a house on Saginaw Bay
My dad was a poor hard working Saginaw fisherman
Too many times he came home with too little pay
I loved a girl in Saginaw Michigan
The daughter of a wealthy, wealthy man
But he called me that son of a Saginaw fisherman
Now I'm up here in Alaska looking around for gold
Like a crazy fool I'm a digging in this frozen ground so cold
But with each new day I pray I'll strike it rich and then
I'll go back home and claim my love in Saginaw Michigan
I wrote my love in Saginaw Michigan
I said, "Honey I'm a-coming home, please wait for me
And you can tell your dad I'm coming home a richer man
I've hit the biggest strike in Klondike history"
Her dad met me in Saginaw Michigan
He gave me a great big party with champagne
Then he said, "Son, you wild young ambitious man
Will you sell your father-in-law your Klondike claim"
Now he's up there in Alaska digging in the cold cold ground
The greedy fool is a-looking for the gold I never found
It serves him right and no one here is missing him
Least of all the newly weds of Saginaw Michigan
We're the happiest man and wife in Saginaw Michigan
He's ashamed to show his face in Saginaw Michigan
The lyrics to Faron Young's song "Saginaw Michigan" tell the story of a man who was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan. His father was a hardworking fisherman who often struggled to make enough money to support the family. The man falls in love with a girl from a wealthy family in Saginaw, but her father disapproves of their relationship because the man is not deemed worthy enough to marry his daughter. Feeling rejected, the man decides to leave Saginaw and head to Alaska in search of gold. He hopes that if he strikes it rich, he will be able to return home and win back his love.
In Alaska, the man toils in the frozen ground, desperate to find gold and change his fortune. He continues to pray for success each day, dreaming of the day he can go back home and claim his love in Saginaw. He writes a letter to his beloved, informing her of his intentions to return home as a wealthy man and asking her to wait for him. The man's sudden prosperity catches the attention of his potential father-in-law, who now sees him as a valuable individual. He throws a grand party for him in Saginaw, offering him champagne and expressing his admiration. However, the father proposes that the man sells him his Klondike claim, hoping to benefit from his newfound wealth. The man refuses, now realizing the father's greed and manipulative nature.
Ultimately, the man is successful in Alaska, while the father-in-law is left empty-handed. The closing lines reveal the happiness of the man and his wife, now free from the disapproval and judgment they faced in Saginaw. The man's triumph in Alaska serves as irony and poetic justice, as his father-in-law's greedy aspirations end up fruitless.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in Saginaw Michigan
I entered this world in the city of Saginaw, located in the state of Michigan.
I grew up in a house on Saginaw Bay
During my childhood, my family resided in a residence situated near Saginaw Bay.
My dad was a poor hard working Saginaw fisherman
My father, who was engaged in the occupation of fishing, toiled tirelessly to make a living, facing financial difficulties along the way.
Too many times he came home with too little pay
Despite his efforts, my father often returned home with a meager income, unable to earn a substantial amount.
I loved a girl in Saginaw Michigan
There existed a strong affection within me towards a young lady who also resided in Saginaw, Michigan.
The daughter of a wealthy, wealthy man
This young lady happened to be the offspring of an extraordinarily affluent individual.
But he called me that son of a Saginaw fisherman
However, her father disrespectfully referred to me as a derogatory term, emphasizing my heritage as the offspring of a hardworking fisherman from Saginaw.
And not good enough to claim his daughter's hand
Due to his perception of my social status, he believed I was not suitable or worthy enough to become his daughter's spouse.
Now I'm up here in Alaska looking around for gold
At present, I find myself in the northern region of Alaska, engaging in the pursuit of discovering valuable gold deposits.
Like a crazy fool I'm a digging in this frozen ground so cold
Seemingly irrational and driven by desperation, I tirelessly dig through the frigid, icy soil without wavering in my determination.
But with each new day I pray I'll strike it rich and then
Every passing day, I offer prayers with the hope that I will eventually discover a substantial amount of wealth, enabling me to improve my circumstances significantly.
I'll go back home and claim my love in Saginaw Michigan
Upon achieving financial success, my intention is to return to my hometown of Saginaw, Michigan, and assert my love for the woman I hold dear.
I wrote my love in Saginaw Michigan
In order to communicate my feelings and intentions, I composed a heartfelt message expressing my love while residing in Saginaw, Michigan.
I said, 'Honey I'm a-coming home, please wait for me
Within my written correspondence, I assured my beloved that I am on my way back home and implored her to patiently await my arrival.
And you can tell your dad I'm coming home a richer man
Additionally, I requested her to inform her father that I will be returning with substantial wealth, having achieved great financial prosperity.
I've hit the biggest strike in Klondike history
I proudly proclaimed that I have stumbled upon an immense and unprecedented discovery of valuable resources in the Klondike region, resulting in a potentially life-changing fortune.
Her dad met me in Saginaw Michigan
Upon my arrival in Saginaw, Michigan, the young lady's father personally greeted me with enthusiasm.
He gave me a great big party with champagne
To celebrate my return and newfound success, he organized a grand celebration, complete with an abundance of champagne.
Then he said, 'Son, you wild young ambitious man
During our interaction, he addressed me affectionately and acknowledged my adventurous and determined nature as a youthful individual.
Will you sell your father-in-law your Klondike claim'
However, he proceeded to make an audacious proposition, inquiring whether I would be willing to sell him the rights to my highly valuable Klondike claim.
Now he's up there in Alaska digging in the cold cold ground
As a result of our agreement, he relocated to Alaska and commenced digging in the freezing, inhospitable soil in search of the promised wealth.
The greedy fool is a-looking for the gold I never found
Regrettably, despite his greed and persistent efforts, he continues to search for the gold that has eluded both him and myself.
It serves him right and no one here is missing him
In a fitting turn of events, he is receiving the consequences he deserves, and his absence is not felt or mourned by anyone in his surroundings.
Least of all the newly weds of Saginaw Michigan
Particularly, it is worth noting that the recently married couple in Saginaw, Michigan is the least concerned or affected by his presence or absence in their lives.
We're the happiest man and wife in Saginaw Michigan
As husband and wife, we are filled with utmost happiness and contentment in our life together in the city of Saginaw, Michigan.
He's ashamed to show his face in Saginaw Michigan
As a result of his unsuccessful endeavors and failed attempt to exploit our newfound wealth, he now possesses feelings of embarrassment and avoids showing his face in Saginaw, Michigan.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bill Anderson, Donald Wayne Choate
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind